Chapter 1—Intercultural Communication: Interaction in a Multicultural World
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is an example of global interconnectedness presented in the text?
a.
the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Tsunami
b.
The European Union’s Sovereign Debt crisis
c.
the debate on U.S. Immigration policy
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
2. By 2050, world population growth is expected surpass ____.
a.
5 billion
b.
6 billion
c.
9 billion
d.
15 billion
e.
16 billion
3. What percentage of the U.S. population is made up of minorities?
a.
12%
b.
15%
c.
25%
d.
35%
e.
40%
4. To what does the “cultural generation” gap refer?
a.
decreasing U.S. population under 45 years of age
b.
increasing U.S. population under 45
c.
increasing U.S. population 45 and older
d.
A and B
e.
A and C
5. ____ involves interaction between people whose cultural perceptions and symbol systems differ
enough to alter communication events.
a.
intercultural communication
b.
internationalization
c.
globalization
d.
cultural divides
e.
Egoism
6. What is the preferred term for the group that “generally exercises the greatest influence on beliefs,
values, perceptions, communication patterns, and customs of a culture?”
a.
mainstream culture
b.
dominant culture
c.
umbrella culture
d.
meta culture
e.
mega culture
7. Culture shock refers to:
a.
major changes originating within one’s home culture
b.
a mental state experienced by an individual when transitioning between a familiar culture
to an unfamiliar culture
c.
major changes originating outside one’s home culture
d.
the perception that one’s home culture is overwhelmed by external cultural forces
e.
C and D
8. At what stage of culture shock does a person begin to recognize the reality of the new setting?
a.
adaptation
b.
exhilaration
c.
disenchantment
d.
adjustment
e.
effective functioning
9. Early conceptualizations of culture shock included this concept, although subsequent research failed to
support.
a.
re-entry shock
b.
the U model
c.
the W model
d.
B and C
e.
A, B, and C.
10. The process of learning to live in a new culture is referred to as:
a.
immersion
b.
acculturation
c.
emulation
d.
integration
e.
inclusion
11. A conviction that one’s own culture is superior to all other cultures is known as:
a.
ethnocentrism
b.
egoism
c.
endoculturalism
d.
multiculturalism
e.
plurisy
12. Which ethical approach supports the view that “ethical principles are universally applied… and
timeless moral truths are rooted in human nature and independent of the conventions of particular
societies?”
a.
fundamentalism
b.
relativism
c.
moral absolutism
d.
A and C
e.
none of the above
13. The philosophical perspective of relativism can be succinctly summarized as:
a.
no single morality
b.
no moral framework that is more correct than any other
c.
true moral codes apply to everyone
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
14. The idea that “one must suspend judgment of other people’s practices in order to understand them in
their own cultural terms” is referred to as:
a.
cultural relativism
b.
altercentrism
c.
objectivism
d.
cultural perceptualism
e.
foundationalism
15. A variation on “the golden rule” can be found in which of the following religions?
a.
Buddhism:
b.
Hinduism
c.
Islam
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
16. Cultural generalizations should be considered:
a.
absolute representations
b.
approximations
c.
indiscriminately
d.
on an individual basis
e.
C and D
17. If a generalization must be made, it should:
a.
be supported by a single reputable source
b.
focus on the primary values and behaviors of a particular culture
c.
be based on historical accounts
d.
based on immediate perceptions
e.
be plausible
18. The state of being just, unbiased, and not influenced by emotions or personal prejudices is also known
as:
a.
objectivity
b.
relativity
c.
selflessness
d.
adjudicating
e.
mindfulness
19. To be objective, one must:
a.
have an open mind
b.
avoid being too judgmental
c.
use a consistent metric
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
1. Globalization, domestic diversity, and immigration make acquiring intercultural communication skills
imperative.
2. Higher education has resisted globalization.
3. By 2023, minorities are expected to constitute the majority of all U.S. children under the age of 18.
4. Technology has enabled ordinary individuals cheaply and quickly to organize themselves around a
common interest, ideology, or social cause.
5. Technology has brought greater polarization throughout the world, though this is less true within the
U.S. society.
6. The definition of intercultural communication involves interaction between government
representatives of different nations.
7. The authors prefer the term “dominant culture” over other terms such as mainstream or umbrella
culture because it clearly indicates that the group being referred to generally exercises the greatest
influence on the beliefs and values of a culture.
8. While a person who is disabled would not be considered a member of a co-culture, someone with an
identifiable ethnic background would.
9. Culture shock is caused by the transition from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one.
10. The second stage of culture shock is the crisis period.
11. Learning about the language of a host culture is all about language acquisition.
12. Working to maintain your culture while living in another culture is not helpful.
13. Cultural relativism is the idea that timeless moral truths are rooted in human nature.
14. Generalizations are based on limited data.
15. Objectivity refers to the state of being “just, unbiased, and not influenced by emotions or personal
prejudices.”
ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: p. 23
ESSAY
1. Discuss why it is important to acquire intercultural communication skills. Be sure to include the
concepts of globalization, domestic diversity, and immigration.
2. How have advances in technology affected impacted intercultural communication?
3. Compare and contrast the concepts of “dominant culture” and “co-culture.” Provide examples.
4. What is the definition of society introduced by the authors? Be sure to include both the general and
specific perspectives.
5. What is culture shock? How does it affect people?
6. Describe the stages of culture shock and provide examples for each?
7. What are some of the recommendations offered in the text to function effectively in a second culture?
List and describe two.
8. What is meant by the term, ethics? How do the authors define it?
9. List and define the basic functions of culture. Provide an example for each.
10. Differentiate between the concepts of moral absolutism and moral relativism.
11. List and explain at least two of the five recommended practices for interacting ethically with people of
diverse cultures.
12. Compare and contrast the concepts of individual uniqueness and generalizations.
13. What are the four precautions a person should take when making generalizations about intercultural
communication?
14. What is objectivity? What role does objectivity play in intercultural communication?